Passenger car air-conditioning systems with adsorption heat pumps

Abstract

A system and method for air-conditioning motor vehicles and, in particular, to an air-conditioning systems for motor vehicles having adsorption heat pumps. The apparatus includes a two adsorber chambers, each connected to a condenser and an evaporator via different connection elements; a vacuum shell for enclosing the adsorber chambers, the condenser, and the evaporator, wherein the vacuum shell is not self-supporting; and one or more adsorbers housed in the adsorber chambers, wherein the adsorbers are comprised of a carrier material coated by a sorbent. The method includes using an adsorption heat pump having one or more adsorber chambers, wherein adsorption and desorption are alternated between the adsorber chambers. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

1. An adsorption heat pump for air conditioning a motor vehicle comprising:
 a first adsorber chamber; 
 a second adsorber chamber; 
 a condenser; 
 an evaporator; 
 a vacuum shell structured and arranged to enclose the first adsorber chamber, the second adsorber chamber, the condenser, and the evaporator; and 
 at least one of the first and second adsorber chambers including adsorbers having a carrier material coated by a sorbent. 
 
     
     
       2. The adsorption heat pump for air conditioning a motor vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the evaporator and the condenser are structured between the first adsorber chamber and the second adsorber chamber. 
     
     
       3. The adsorption heat pump for air conditioning a motor vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first connection element arranged to connect the first adsorber chamber to the condenser; 
 a second connection element arranged to connect the first adsorber chamber to the evaporator; 
 a third connection element arranged to connect the second adsorber chamber to the condenser; and 
 a fourth connection element arranged to connect the second adsorber chamber to the evaporator. 
 
     
     
       4. The adsorption heat pump for air conditioning a motor vehicle of  claim 3 , wherein the first connection element, the second connection element, the third connection element, and the fourth connection element are composed of thermohydraulic valves. 
     
     
       5. The adsorption heat pump for air conditioning a motor vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising a first heat exchanger in the first adsorber chamber and a second heat exchanger in the second adsorber chamber, whereby heat is supplied to the sorbent to be desorbed. 
     
     
       6. The adsorption heat pump for air conditioning a motor vehicle of  claim 5 , whereby heat is obtained from a drive engine and/or from an auxiliary heater. 
     
     
       7. The adsorption heat pump for air conditioning a motor vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein a heat exchanger is structured and arranged to dissipate heat released during adsorption. 
     
     
       8. The adsorption heat pump for air conditioning a motor vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a heat transfer medium and a heat pipe, wherein the evaporator generates cold, which is transferred by the at least one of the heat transfer medium and the heat pipe to an air cooler, whereby air is transported into a cooling area. 
     
     
       9. The adsorption heat pump for air conditioning a motor vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein cold generated in the evaporator is transferred directly to air transported into a cooling area. 
     
     
       10. The adsorption heat pump for air conditioning a motor vehicle of  claim 8 , whereby heat arising in at least one of the first adsorber chamber, the second adsorber chamber, and the condenser is transferred by the at least one of the heat transfer medium and the heat pipe to a recooling unit, whereby heat is dissipated to outside air. 
     
     
       11. The adsorption heat pump for air conditioning a motor vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein heat arising in at least one of the first adsorber chamber, the second adsorber chamber, and the condenser is dissipated directly to outside air. 
     
     
       12. The adsorption heat pump for air conditioning a motor vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the sorbent is a zeolite. 
     
     
       13. The adsorption heat pump for air conditioning a motor vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein water is a working agent. 
     
     
       14. The adsorption heat pump for air conditioning a motor vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller structured and arranged to allow air conditioning by at least one of a predefined time and after receiving a signal that is triggered from outside the vehicle. 
     
     
       15. The adsorption heat pump for air conditioning a motor vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising a metal sponge structured and arranged to transfer heat from the sorbent to a secondary medium flowing in a heat exchanger. 
     
     
       16. The adsorption heat pump for air conditioning a motor vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein the first adsorber chamber and the second adsorber chamber are situated in a motor vehicle such that the metal sponge is used to absorb kinetic energy in the event of accident. 
     
     
       17. The adsorption heat pump for air conditioning a motor vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the adsorption heat pump is either structured as a motor vehicle bumper or arranged as a part of a motor vehicle bumper. 
     
     
       18. A method for air conditioning a motor vehicle with the adsorption heat pump of  claim 1 , comprising preheating an engine of the motor vehicle with heat released from at least one of the first or second adsorption chambers. 
     
     
       19. A method for air conditioning a motor vehicle using the adsorption heat pump of  claim 1 , further comprising keeping the sorbent in a desorbed state to use the adsorption heat pump as a cold accumulator or as a heat accumulator. 
     
     
       20. A method for air conditioning a motor vehicle using the adsorption heat pump of  claim 1 , comprising alternating adsorption and desorption between the first and second adsorber chambers, where the second adsorber chamber simultaneously desorbs during adsorption in the first adsorber chamber and simultaneously adsorbs during desorption in the first adsorber chamber. 
     
     
       21. The method for air conditioning a motor vehicle using an adsorption heat pump of  claim 20 , wherein after a drive engine of a motor vehicle is turned off, one of the first adsorber chamber and the second adsorber chamber is desorbed without simultaneous adsorption. 
     
     
       22. An adsorption heat pump for air conditioning a motor vehicle comprising:
 a first adsorber chamber; 
 a second adsorber chamber; 
 a condenser; 
 an evaporator; 
 a vacuum shell structured and arranged to enclose the first adsorber chamber, the second adsorber chamber, the condenser, and the evaporator; and 
 at least one of the first and second adsorber chambers including adsorbers having a carrier material coated by a sorbent, 
 wherein the vacuum shell is not self-supporting.